M 90mm on SL2(S)

[Stuart Richardson]

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I will say that if you already have the 90-280mm, the Sigma 90mm Contemporary would be high on my list. I think AF is really nice to have on the SL cameras, particularly with a longer lens. I find that with M lenses and moving subjects, they have often moved out of the magnified area by the time I am satisfied with the focus. It depends on how picky one is with tack sharp images, but I find that M lenses are more easily focused on M cameras, at least when the subject is moving. When they are still, the SL is more accurate. But if you are just looking for a compact L mount 90mm, the Sigma checks a lot of boxes: good build quality, low price, close focus, good optical performance and very low weight and size for an AF 90mm. It is only 295g, despite being metal. The 90mm APO Summicron is 500g. It's not super speed or super fancy, but sometimes the most modest lenses are the most pleasing.

Edited September 18 by Stuart Richardson

[jaapv]

24 minutes ago, Stuart Richardson said:

I will say that if you already have the 90-280mm, the Sigma 90mm Contemporary would be high on my list. I think AF is really nice to have on the SL cameras, particularly with a longer lens. I find that with M lenses and moving subjects, they have often moved out of the magnified area by the time I am satisfied with the focus. It depends on how picky one is with tack sharp images, but I find that M lenses are more easily focused on M cameras, at least when the subject is moving. When they are still, the SL is more accurate. But if you are just looking for a compact L mount 90mm, the Sigma checks a lot of boxes: good build quality, low price, close focus, good optical performance and very low weight and size for an AF 90mm. It is only 295g, despite being metal. The 90mm APO Summicron is 500g. It's not super speed or super fancy, but sometimes the most modest lenses are the most pleasing.

The Panasonic is part of the series that Leica clones as Summicrons, is 1.8 and weighs 355 grams. 

[Chris W]

I don't know the Panasonic. My M Summicron 90mm is quite long. The Sigma Contemporary is shorter/smaller. The colour and sharpness it renders on the SL2-S is very nice in deed.

[BernardC]

2 hours ago, jaapv said:

The Panasonic is part of the series that Leica clones as Summicrons, is 1.8 and weighs 355 grams. 

Panasonic's 35 and 50/1.8 lenses are the basis of the two Summicron ASPH L-mount lenses, but the 18, 24, 85, and 100 from that Lumix series don't have a Leica equivalent.

[jaapv]

that is correct , but the whole series has a very consistent performance   I would not be surprised if Leica were eyeing more designs.

[Ken Abrahams]

You might want to look at https://www.l-camera-forum.com/profile/54049-frame-it/ (Frame-It) Their work on the forum is mostly with the Apo Summicron M 90 Asph. 

I do like the quality of Leica M Lenses. I tried a Sigma 35 f2 AF lens once and never again. It sits in the cabinet bottom drawer. I dont doubt the quality of Panasonic or Sigma. It's just that I dont want them in my kit. I did think about the Macro lens however.  

[Chris W]

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All the Sigma contemporary lenses I've had were fantastic. I have pixel peeped them. Perhaps they don't have the character of a good M lens.

[Ken Abrahams]

18 minutes ago, Chris W said:

All the Sigma contemporary lenses I've had were fantastic. I have pixel peeped them. Perhaps they don't have the character of a good M lens.

Yes,  hopefully they have their own character, better but different? Which is much to say that in these modern times, lenses are crafted to be optically perfect. The Apo SL Summicrons are probably close to that given the current technology. The recently new and updated M lenses are in some ways better than past M Lenses unless you prefer character of the old. Leica can go about modernising old favourite lenses like the Summilux M 50 Pre Asph Classic, Reissue. There are no shortages of choices, including brands and prices. 

[Stuart Richardson]

7 hours ago, Ken Abrahams said:

You might want to look at https://www.l-camera-forum.com/profile/54049-frame-it/ (Frame-It) Their work on the forum is mostly with the Apo Summicron M 90 Asph. 

I do like the quality of Leica M Lenses. I tried a Sigma 35 f2 AF lens once and never again. It sits in the cabinet bottom drawer. I dont doubt the quality of Panasonic or Sigma. It's just that I dont want them in my kit. I did think about the Macro lens however.  

Just FYI, I have had or tried four Sigma lenses, the 24mm 3.5, 35mm f2 and 105mm. Of them, I was not super impressed by the 35mm f2 or 45mm. The 24mm and 105mm are both superb though. I would suggest not evaluating them on one lens. 

[Printmaker]

I can second the last option of the Sigma 105 macro. It is a wonderful lens and is very affordable. But if slow and deliberate portrait work is your thing, I would go with either the Leica M APO Summicron 90 or the Leica M APO Summicron 75, especially if you want to focus manually. Most modern autofocus lenses offer a piss poor experience in manual focus.

When I shoot portraits on my SL2 or SL2S, I use my 75 APO Summicron M. I use the Sigma 105 for flowers and other macro work. Different horses for different courses.

http://www.barefootinkauai.com

[DreiPunkte]

On 9/17/2025 at 11:10 PM, daan said:

I’d like to add a 90mm to use mainly with my SL2(S). Primarily to complement my 50mm Summilux, and as a compact alternative to my 90-280.

If you value compact and want manual focus, then I'd throw the smallest and lightest 90mm Leica ever into the ring.
The tiny Tele-Elmarit II (11800 the slim one) has become the most used 90mm in my flock of 90th.
Not for outstanding IQ but for the unbeateble combination of opening, size/weight, price, IQ and usebility.
For shure when I compare it wide open to the Summicrons on the screen I can see the difference.
But in reallife pictures on the wall nobody will see the diference and the best is I need no suspenders when it is
in my trouser pocket.
The very best lens is the lens that takes the picture and this lens is always with me. Yes I use it with my SL2s 

Edited September 20 by DreiPunkte

[jaapv]

Just got my Panasonic 85/1.8 yesterday and I am impressed. Compact, a featherweight, surprisingly well finished, (limited) weather sealing, image quality far exceeds my needs. Got it LNIB for 350 Euro.  Together with its counterpart  35/1.8 it makes for a compact and light daily carry on the SL2S, about 1.5 kg in the smallest LowePro bum bag.  

[T25UFO]

On 9/17/2025 at 10:11 PM, daan said:

Primarily to complement my 50mm Summilux, and as a compact alternative to my 90-280.

You might also look at the Summilux-M f1.5.  Not popular with M users because of weight, size (blocked the viewfinder) and cost, so it was discontinued.  But an excellent lens for the SL and not difficult to find a good secondhand example.  Ffordes in the UK have a new one discounted.

https://www.ffordes.com/p/11678/leica-m/90mm-f15-summilux-asph-m-black-11678

[Luke_Miller]

My 90mm Elmarit-M works beautifully on my SL2/SL2-S bodies.  IBIS helps with the f2.8 max aperture and the lighter weight is appreciated.

[Ken Abrahams]

On 9/19/2025 at 9:13 PM, Stuart Richardson said:

The 24mm and 105mm are both superb though. I would suggest not evaluating them on one lens. 

I have the Sigma, Stuart and if one is to believe what they say about Leica rebadging Panna and Sigma lenses, I also have the 14-24 Elmarit Vario and a 50mm (Non apo) Summicron Asph. Both the 14-24 and 50 Asph are really fun lenses with a lot to like about them. The forum is also a great place to glean expert opinions from well experienced lensmen like yourself Stuart. I always do a good amount of research when a particular lens grabs my fancy. The local camera store and Leica Australia in Melbourne is a great place to follow my inklings for further hands on tactile research. So if a lens stands out and I can see its place in furthering my image making process I cover a fair bit of ground in my research. 

Best

Ken 

[Jon Warwick]

On 9/18/2025 at 12:05 PM, Stuart Richardson said:

Meanwhile, if you just want a good lens in this range, Sigma’s 85mm, 90mm and 105mm lenses are all likely to beat most M mount lenses in performance and do it with AF at a lower price. I can personally vouch for the 105mm APO Macro…it is on par with my APO Summicrons. 

Reid Reviews wrote an in-depth look over the summer of the Sigma DG DN 85mm. IMHO, he’s not one for hyperbole, but it sounds like a fabulous lens in its own right, even before factoring price differentials with the SL equivalents. I have an incoming DG DN 50mm 1.4 (used, but mint) so will be intrigued to see how that one performs on my SL2-S. 

[Eoin]

On 9/21/2025 at 10:37 AM, T25UFO said:

You might also look at the Summilux-M f1.5.  Not popular with M users because of weight, size (blocked the viewfinder) and cost, so it was discontinued.  But an excellent lens for the SL and not difficult to find a good secondhand example.  Ffordes in the UK have a new one discounted.

https://www.ffordes.com/p/11678/leica-m/90mm-f15-summilux-asph-m-black-11678

From my experience, the APO Summicron SL 90 is the far more practical choice given the AF, weight and cost. The only difference I notice is the illumination or light gathering of the Summilux across the frame is just slightly better than the APO Summicron SL 90.